Running-mad inventor's Million Mile Light powered by movement alone proves a hit with joggers wanting to stay safe in the dark

Reluctant exercisers now have one less excuse not to pound the pavement, even on these long winter nights.

Simple but innovative, the 'Million Mile Light' is powered by movement, meaning runners can illuminate their path, and be spotted by others.

Running enthusiasts have flocked to the idea, and in the last few weeks 5,000 pre-ordered light packs have been delivered around the world, with a funding total of almost £51,000.

Lighting the way: Million Mile Lights use the runner's kinetic energy to illuminate the road ahead

Million Mile Light inventor, Tom Lawton was inspired to create the product after running at nightfall down country lanes.

He says: 'I am a runner, and I run a lot, in any weather and any time of day.

'I was running home late one autumn evening and the only thing I was chasing was the setting sun. The road home can be treacherous sometimes because even though it has a 40 mph speed limit I live in the country and drivers are often doing 70 mph because there isn't any speed enforcement and they come straight off the motorway.

This is scary when the light fades and their wing mirrors are 12 inches from you as you pace an unlit pavement.'

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The size of a packet of chewing gum, the lights weigh just 36g and can be seen 200 metres away. They can be attached to the waistband provided then users can either run or walk to power the four LED lights inside, which

He recommends customers buy two, one for their front and one for their back, at a cost of £20 each.

Tom says: 'I want to run but I also want to stay alive - I have tried battery powered lights but they always run out of power at the wrong time and to be honest it's pain enough having to charge your smartphone so I'd rather not have to think of anything else.

'I'm fed up of planned obsolescence you see in many products today and wanted to make something that pretty much lasted forever. Then I began to wonder if I could use my energy when running to power lights to keep me safe'

Racing ahead: Tom (pictured with son Barney) has sold more than 5,000 sets of the lights through crowdfunding

The inventor adds that while there are battery-powered models available for runners, there are no other products that convert kinetic energy from movement into light.

He says: 'It's a world's first - but don't be taken in by novelty because it really does the job as well as any other running light with much more too.

'It has been designed to never need replacing or recharging because it harvests power from the runner - hence being called the Million Mile Light.

'But it's not just for runners - it works so well that it will light you up even if you're just walking.'

In the autumn of last year, Tom opened funding for Million Mile Light on Kickstarter. He sold more than 5,000 units for pre-order and got started on production.

Tom says financial motivation was not the only reason why he turned to crowdfunding.

He says: 'It's not just the cash , it's the awareness, the story, the community - the whole gig - it's great fun. It's also especially satisfying when you buck the trend and actually deliver a product that exceeds expectations and in time frame that meets your estimated delivery date. We have a lot of happy customers.'

In the past few weeks the lights were delivered across the world, as far as Antarctica, where they will be used by the British Antarctic Survey.

But this is my no means the first gadget Tom, 39, has created.

After leaving university as a product design graduate in 1998 he came up with his first invention - a recordable alarm clock.

Amazing inventions: Tom and Barney on the set of Tom's Amazing Floating Home

Tom enjoyed success with his design, selling 200,000 of the clocks through high street retailers. and although he didn't make a lot of money, he did gain confidence and this was followed by many more projects.

These included a 360 video attachment for your smartphone called BubbleScope, a wind-powered light called Firewinder and honking handlebars, which are licensed to Microscooters and available in John Lewis.

On the side, the inventor presented his own show in 2013 called 'Tom's Fantastic Floating Home,' and can be currently seen on our screens presenting features in BBC show 'What to Buy and Why'

But his main focus is now the Million Mile Light which he works on full time alongside business partner Peter Corke and a part time team.

To raise the profile of the brand the duo are looking to organise some night runs to show off the product. They are also hoping to support the Ugandan Marathon, which doesn't have street lights.

And now he is looking to create different projects based around the technology that the light uses.

'There are many applications and we all really love the ethos of the product and brand - it's sustainable, renewable, keeps vulnerable people safe, powered by you, lasts forever - I mean what's not to love?'